Rhode Island § 27-41-36 - Health Maintenance Organizations

§ 27-41-36. Services of midwives.

Every health maintenance organization plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state shall provide coverage for the services of licensed midwives in accordance with each health maintenance organization’s respective principles and mechanisms of reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting if the services are within the licensed midwives’ area of professional competence as defined by regulations promulgated pursuant to § 23-13-9 and are currently reimbursed when rendered by any other licensed healthcare provider. No health maintenance organization may require supervision, signature, or referral by any other healthcare provider as a condition of reimbursement to a licensed midwife whose services are provided pursuant to § 27-41-5(a)(6)(ii), except when the requirements are also applicable to other categories of healthcare providers. No health maintenance organization or patient may be required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a licensed midwife and any other healthcare provider. Direct payment for licensed midwives will be contingent upon services rendered in a licensed healthcare facility and for services rendered in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health; provided, that this provision shall not prohibit payment for services pursuant to § 42-62-26 or for other services reimbursed by third-party payors.